Me too. You will be a hero if you shift resources from low payoff (staff) to high payoff (attorney) training that increases billable hours. In this post, I will show you how.

I have been in dozens of firms throughout the US and have yet to see even one spend more on attorney training than staff training. Could you be the first?

Increase revenue or decrease cost.

Those are the only two options for making more money. In 2002, I was hired to increase the secretarial ratio (i.e. the ratio of attorneys to secretaries) through better technology training. The effort was successful (moving from 2.5 to 3.5) but took years as the firm did this through attrition (not replacing those who left). On the other hand, even a slight increase in billable hours can happen much faster and have a bigger impact (see below).

Okay, I’m convinced but…

I know your first objection to training attorneys: “We can’t get them to class.” I get that. Outside of CLEs and adult beverages, it is hard.

On the other hand, attorneys make time for what is important to them. Start with a pilot group (around 20 attorneys) and follow the plan below.

Accelerated Attorney Productivity Development Plan

Summary: To increase attorney billable hours and happiness through an intense six-week program on personal productivity.

Measurements: Measure billable hours before and after. Make this a year over year comparison to account for seasonal variations.

Expected ROI: Breakeven on billable hours within six months. Other benefits include better retention rate of attorneys and decreased load on support staff.

Format: A 30-minute webinar (group) and a 30-minute coaching session (one-on-one) per week for six weeks.

Modules

Get paid for all the work you do. Time entry featuring contemporaneous time and entry and timers. Leverages iPad and Apple Watch.

Make peace with your Inbox. Ninja-fast email management. Features ground breaking work by Michael Linenberger.

Make your to-do’s work for you. Practice task management that works every time and leaves your mind free to focus on the present.

Fall in love with note taking. Use Notability on the iPad to sync recordings of your meetings and your handwritten notes.

Organize your digital life. Leverage the power of OneNote to organize your digital life across all your devices.

Create bulletproof documents. Use the power of Styles to easily create beautiful, trouble-free documents.

Once you can show that your program increases billable hours, you can begin to roll it out to the whole firm. I dare you to present this to your leadership and see if they won’t give you the resources you need to make it happen.

Pro tip: incentivize the trainer. If you really want to make this a success, give the technology trainer a percentage of the increase to the bottom line. Giving the trainer “skin in the game” helps create amazing results.

Question: What is one step you can take at your firm to make this happen? What are you doing now for attorney technology training? Leave your feedback in the comments.

]]>In what some are coining a landmark case, an Israeli District Court recently ruled that Israeli banks are not obligated to provide financial services to companies whose primary business is trading in crypto-currencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. The Court reasoned that banks should not have to assume the risks associated with providing a financial platform to these digital currency businesses when the leading Israeli authorities on the subject, namely the Central Bank, the Securities Authority and the Anti-Money Laundering and Terror Financing Authority, themselves have been struggling to delineate clear measures to minimize them. One of the primary risks noted by the Israeli authorities, along with regulators around the globe, is the pseudo-anonymous nature of crypto-currency. Regulators view the digital token transfer method as a “black box”, low in accountability and virtually impossible to subject to existing anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-terror financing regulations. However, inflexibility may be clouding judgment: built-in features of crypto-currency, particularly Blockchain technology, have the potential to improve, not harm, AML efforts, even surpassing mechanisms already in place today.

The growing tension between the fast-growing crypto-currency industry and AML guidelines is fueled by several factors, beyond Bitcoin’s somewhat misguided reputation as a favorite of hackers and criminals, the primary of which is its structure. The current AML system was originally tailored to address existing centralized financial services systems. By default, these guidelines cannot account for a finance system based on intrinsic anonymity. Rather, AML relies on the ability to monitor and exploit the Know Your Client (KYC) process, identifying information which every financial institution is required to account for by law.

The AML monitoring mechanisms currently in place attributes every transaction to a pre-identified legal entity. Data tracked in a fiat money paper-trail includes: (a) the financial system entry point, i.e. opening bank account (b) any transaction within the system, for example, sending money from one bank account to another or use of swift platforms. The systems then monitor the financial activity, evaluate the AML risks associated with such transactions, and follow up with any relevant notifications and reports. Use of the financial proceeds of a crime, when identified, can be easily attributed to a particular person, and legal measures applied accordingly.

Critics of crypto-currency point to the lack of identifying information throughout digital transactions as a substantial obstacle to existing AML surveillance and enforcement capabilities. However, all of these essential regulatory and enforcement elements—identifying parties and information, a record of the transaction and even enforcement—can all exist in the crypto-currency system. It’s all a matter of adjusting perspective.

Firstly, crypto-currency accounts for the identity of its users both at the beginning and end of transactions through digital wallets. Tokens are stored in electronic wallets instead of bank accounts. Only the wallet-owner has access to their wallet. The owner can send and accept tokens from one wallet to another by providing the identification code of their wallet to the other side of the transaction. The code itself acts as a key, eliminating the need for names or other types of identification. As such, the transaction itself is seemingly anonymous. However, in most countries today, one needs to undergo the process of KYC in order to open a new digital wallet. Hence, by virtue of owning an electronic wallet, even without necessarily using it, anonymity is compromised. Nevertheless, in some places, wallets can still be opened without a proper identification process, which potentially may allow “dirty money” into the system. “Dirty money” and other issues like coin-join and “smurfing”, make it difficult to attribute a financial transaction to a specific legal entity, presenting a problem still in need of a solution.

One possibility is the expansion of KYC as a worldwide pre-requisite to issue global e-wallets by setting designated wallet standards, thereby prohibiting token transfer to a wallet which does not meet those same standards. Considering there is only one type of entry and exit point, unlike the multiple exchange platforms available in the fiat system, crypto-currency could conceivably enhance identity tracking capability. Evidently such specifications would require consensus by key players in the industry and complimentary regulation. The recent upswing in new KYC requirements for new and existing wallet owners internationally suggests that such standardization could be crucial for ensuring the proper functioning of the growing future crypto-currency industry as it nears sovereign recognition.

Additionally, thanks to blockchain technology, crypto-currencies inherently possess the potential to actually reduce AML risks when compared with fiat currencies. The blockchain is an online public ledger, where each transaction is supervised, validated and recorded as a complete transaction history. Public ledger viewers and crypto-miners are immediately notified of any transfer from one holder to another. Furthermore, unlike counterfeit hard-currency, which governments spend significant sums trying to combat, crypto-currencies are almost impossible to forge as each carry their own unique characteristics, which are verified from end-to-end by miners. Without verification of all transaction phases, including the departure wallet, the destination wallet, the currency type and amount, the transaction is blocked instantaneously without any human supervision. In this sense, the digital trail could better serve AML regulations than existing fiat paper trail.

The structure of Blockchain is not the only characteristic of the crypto-currency system which benefits AML efforts. Crypto-miners, who act as de facto enforcement, are integral to the system as well. Miners oversee the implementation of the protocol attached to the blockchain code, and validation of transactions vis-à-vis solving the encryption algorithm. Once a validation is announced to the network, other miners “check the math”, and a block is added to the ledger only when the required number of miners has verified the transaction. Similarly, the blockchain protocol could be revised to limit transactions to KYC-verified wallets only. All transactions could be traced back to an identified e-wallet. Moreover, AML risk analysis and alert and report-generating mechanisms could be integrated within the crypto-system, instead of monitoring only the entry and exit points.

As crypto-currencies gain mainstream public attention, and more individuals are putting their skin in the game, addressing AML challenges has become crucial. At the core of the crypto-system, blockchain technology’s inherent characteristics offer a platform to address, if not overcome these challenges altogether. Evidently, there will be a price associated with in the form of higher transaction costs and less anonymity. But, it’s a price worth paying for the purpose of allowing for crypto-currency to carry onward and change the face of money as we know it. With the cost of global AML measures currently estimated at over $10 billion annually, the Israeli authorities as well as law and policymakers worldwide would be prudent to look before they leap, ensuring their good intentions to protect financial intuitions and citizens don’t end up blocking a technology which could provide a return on investment that far surpasses the price of transitional uncertainty.

]]>http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/challenge-in-crypto-currencies/feed/0http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/challenge-in-crypto-currencies/e-Discovery: What to Request When You’re Requestinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LawTechnologyTodayOrg/~3/dQrMu9Tm1LM/
http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/e-discovery-request-youre-requesting/#respondWed, 16 Aug 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/?p=7431Even law firms with extensive litigation and e-discovery experience have at times failed to request this data and been disadvantaged as a result.

]]>What is sometimes overlooked in drafting and negotiating discovery requests is the form of document production. Specifying the form of production within discovery requests can save a significant amount of time and money in the document review phase and lead to the production of valuable data that would not otherwise be produced at all. While some of the categories discussed below may seem obvious, in our experience even law firms with extensive litigation and e-discovery experience have at times failed to request this data and been disadvantaged as a result.

The purpose of metadata is to preserve information about documents that would be lost if, for instance, you printed out a document and handed it to opposing counsel. Who wrote the document? Who received it, and when? Where important data is not available on the face of the document, success can turn on the ability to analyze this metadata.

Not only does this information provide key facts not apparent from the document, it also assists in the efficient and accurate review of the documents. Analyzing metadata is one of the key ways that the document review team can intelligently identify privileged, key, and responsive documents without having to engage in a linear, manual review.

Document Format: TIFFs and Natives

While TIFF format is an acceptable form of production for many documents, certain file types need to be produced in native format.

For certain documents, significant content, such as speaker notes in presentations or track changes and comments in word processing documents, is lost in the TIFFing process. For others, such as Excel spreadsheets, the TIFF format no longer presents data in the coherent manner that the native file does. Specifying the types of files that must be produced in native format at the beginning of the discovery process allows for a more accurate review and negates the delay inherent in having to request the documents be produced again in native format (if that’s even possible).

The additional information in these documents can also be very useful in crafting a document review strategy. Documents that contain comments and tracked changes, for example, are often more likely to contain privileged and/or interesting information. Spreadsheets and presentations often focus on the key issues in a matter in a predictable way and prioritizing review of certain categories or sub-categories of document types can enable the front-loading of documents that are most likely to be important, allowing for the law firm and the client to gain a more complete understanding of the facts earlier in the discovery process.

Define “Documents”

It is also important to specify all types of data being requested. While it is standard to request the production of all paper and electronic documents, failure to individually list all categories of requested “documents” can lead to the omission of key data sources and important information. Consider the specifics of your litigation and whether circumstances are such that it is likely that unusual data, such as chats, texts, shared drives, structured data, specific databases, voicemails, and telephonic recordings may be involved.

Requesting these types of documents in discovery requests ensures that the client gets the facts and communications central to building the case, especially in industries that are known to rely on these forms of communications.

When considering what types of documents to request, it is important to keep in mind that you, in turn, will most likely also be asked to produce those types of documents as well. If a party believes that the burden will be much greater on themselves than the opposing party to review and produce a certain category of document, and this burden is not outweighed by the possible benefit of receiving the other party’s production of the same data, it makes sense to modify the discovery requests accordingly. Careful consideration of the players involved, the type of industry, and other specifics of the litigation at hand should be undertaken to ensure that you are focusing on the types of documents most likely to contain the information needed.

Requesting ESI is a process that can be fraught with pitfalls. The processes outlined above provide some helpful steps that can assist you in avoiding those pitfalls, allowing for a streamlined and efficient review of ESI and the development of a complete understanding of the facts and issues involved in your case.

]]>Cash flow is widely considered as the key to running an effective business. Many lawyers prefer to bill a client another $200, rather than call about the past-due $2000 bill with that same client. If your practice currently maintains a significant outstanding amount of receivables, then you are effectively extending credit to your clients! Are your billing practices harming your law firm’s finances?

A clearly communicated invoice with easy payment options can set you apart from your competitors. Successful law firms are starting to utilize the data available to them through modern billing tools to optimize their invoicing practices and get paid easier.

In Better Billing for Lawyers, we’ll take a look at how modern law firms are managing invoicing and receivables to improve client experience and increase likelihood of payment. Join Joshua Lenon of Clio as he takes a data driven look at how to bill better as a lawyer.

]]>The ever-increasing emphasis on both collaboration and security presents today’s law firm with a growing challenge – How do you implement both in such a way that documents can be shared effortlessly across devices while still controlling access to them and not compromising the security of the internal DMS environment?

Comments were added to the ABA Model Rules regarding an attorney’s ethical responsibility to understand technology relevant to his practice and to take reasonable means of protecting client data. Additionally, any law firm with health care or financial services clients may also be subject to regulatory requirements such as those dictated by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) or FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). Although not every firm has to comply with these regulatory requirements, they still may face demands from their clients. The second annual ALM Intelligence Law Firm Cybersecurity Survey indicated that “more than 70% of firms report that their clients have exerted pressure on them to increase internal security.”

As a result, one topic brought to the forefront is encryption. Put simply, encryption means encoding information in such a way that only those authorized can decode it. There are a number of ways encryption technology can be implemented, many of which are quite complex. The challenge facing law firms is to find a technology that can ensure the security of client information without being so complicated that it is difficult to implement or use. Firms may be required to encrypt data both when it is being transmitted and when it is at rest.

Another topic that has been a focus for several years is collaboration and sharing. Email has become the most common method of communication, but it is not a secure way to transmit sensitive or confidential information. There are many ways that data can be encrypted in transit but the simplest products to implement and use are those that integrate directly with Outlook, making it easy to encrypt attachments on the fly prior to sending messages. Some products on the market may also include the ability to clean metadata as well as some digital rights management features that remove the ability to print or modify attachments on the fly during the send process.

Worldox Connect empowers professionals to collaborate on files without boundaries. Due to its seamless and secure linking capabilities, Worldox Connect is ideal for top law and financial firms, or any organization that depends on the security of private information.

]]>It has been eight years since the first Bitcoin transaction in 2009, and now one of the oldest and most commonly used digital currency is experiencing a fundamental change. As of August 1st, 201, the currency has split into two separate entities: Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.

While the new currency Bitcoin Cash will not directly affect the value of the original, it is possible that other effects will soon become evident. The potential legal and logistical troubles that could arise for users of both currencies due to this split are certainly cause for concern, if not outright alarm. So, what has actually happened to Bitcoin and how could it affect you?

What Happened?

Bitcoin Cash was established to improve upon and potentially replace the original Bitcoin. It aims to accomplish this by providing a superior service, chiefly by focusing on the poor transfer rates that Bitcoin users commonly experience.

Before the split, Bitcoin users could only transfer one megabyte of data at a time. This limited the number of Bitcoin transactions to a total of seven every second, a severe practical limitation on the currency that likely influenced its popularity. Bitcoin Cash does away with these constraints. Up to eight megabytes of Bitcoin Cash data can be transferred at any time, giving it a distinct advantage over the original currency.

Bitcoin Cash is, however, severely limited in other ways.

The most pressing limitation of Bitcoin Cash when compared to the original is the lack of support that it has received from the community. Digital currencies exist without the backing of any physical material or banking organization, and as such heavily rely on users actually “mining” and using them.

Bitcoin Cash simply does not have an active enough user base to be as prolific as Bitcoin right now. Of course, the currency has only recently been created, but it has already impacted upon its perceived value standing at only $345 as of August 8th. While this is relatively impressive, ranking it as the 4th most valuable digital currency on Coin Market Cap, it falls far short of Bitcoin’s $3,383 value.

Bitcoin Cash also faces some practical limitations. The potentially poor security of digital currencies inherently limits their usage and acceptance of those currencies in businesses. Still only 40% of retailers accept chip cards due to the potential security issues associated with them, demonstrating vendors’ tendency to be cautious when it comes to new payment methods.

However, the issues surrounding Bitcoin Cash are not limited to its own potential shortcomings. The legal ramifications of the currencies creation are numerous and far reaching, particularly due to the inherently global nature of any digital currency.

How Could It Affect You?

The fact that Bitcoin Cash exists as a fork from the original currency is the potential cause of many legal issues, as well as a major factor in the reactions of digital currency marketplaces and investors.

While Coinbase initially refused to trade in Bitcoin Cash due to uncertainty surrounding the market, the marketplace has since accepted the change and will implement Bitcoin Cash transactions by January 2018. This case highlights the potential legal trouble that could occur due to the split, especially in regards to how marketplaces react to new currency creations in the future.

However, this is not the limit to the legal difficulties that the split could cause. The potential for direct competition between the two currencies could lead to sabotage from investors and developers. As the currencies are easily exchangeable, but only usable once, bad actors could easily manipulate the markets.

To make matters worse, potential litigation against these saboteurs and manipulators could be effectively impossible due to the inherently global nature of digital currencies like Bitcoin Cash. This again could result in serious issues with Bitcoin Cash for which workable solutions are not yet known.

It is clear that any potential investors in Bitcoin Cash need to thoroughly examine the potential legal consequences of the Bitcoin split. The currency is still growing. It’s likely, however, that issues will arise in the future as the needs of the currency change, similar to the issues that occurred with Bitcoin and resulted in the creation of Bitcoin Cash in the first place.

]]>Law firm websites can become stagnant over time. Many contain only basic information about services and staff. Often firm websites serve as an online version of a brochure, serving only as a way for potential clients to get general information. However, in recent years, many successful firms have learned to turn their websites into a selling point, using their blog to establish thought leadership in specific practice areas. A blog can help boost a firm ahead of its competition and bring in additional business.

A law firm’s blog can dramatically increase its reach. Visitors will have a reason to keep coming back on a regular basis for insightful advice, news and information. A blog can increase your search engine optimization and serve as a means to generate content that can easily be shared across social media platforms.

However, for your blog post to reach its goals, you’ll need to ensure the information you provide is useful and interesting to new and repeat visitors. One of the best way to do that is to collect and share data that will help educate and inform the readers and also entice other online bloggers and social media users to share and re-post your content. Here are a few ways you can use data to make your blog more interesting to visitors.

Case Successes

One of the most popular uses of a firm’s blog is to announce news and accomplishments of the firm and its attorneys. Announcing state bar appointments and firm awards is a great way to impress visitors. Use your firm’s blog to provide statistics about your firm’s cases. Display data on the number cases the first has successfully resolved, money the firm has been able to recover for its clients, as well as trial and arbitration successes.

Statistics

When you step back and consider the information your website visitors might want to read, statistics related to the cases you cover will likely be toward the top of the list. Personal injury attorneys can share statistics on car accidents in the area or slip-and-fall accidents by time of year. These statistics are often publicly available and will likely be shared by your colleagues, clients, and general consumer audiences who find them interesting.

Surveys

One of the best ways to get your content linked in high-profile publications is by conducting your own survey. Make sure you gather a large sampling and fully disclose how many people participated when you publish your results on your blog. You can use a survey tool to make it easier to share it and gather results. The information you gather could be targeted directly to your colleagues in the legal field or to general consumer audiences. You could, for instance, conduct a survey to determine how clients locate and choose an attorney or what type of life event would lead them to seek an attorney.

Infographics

Infographics have become a great way to display information in a visually-appealing manner. The best thing about infographics is that can easily be shared and re-purposed into articles and news releases. This legal infographic demonstrates how information can be used to break down complicated concepts. Best of all, you can create your infographic for free using data available online.

Informed Marketing

One of the best things about data is its ability to help businesses learn more about the results of their efforts. Experts have expended significant energy into helping others determine the best time of day to take a blog post live, for instance, but each business has its own unique audience. By gathering and analyzing this information, your firm can better determine the type of content for your target audience, as well as the time of day and day of the week for posting to get the best results.

Successful businesses use data to inform important decisions. For law firms with blogs, this means finding ways to share statistics with their own clients, as well as putting the information to use in creating content their clients and potential clients will enjoy and share.

A well-executed and curated blog can increase website traffic, improve SEO performance, and help you firm to be seen as a thought leader in your practice area.

]]>http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/5-ways-data-can-improve-your-law-firms-blog/feed/0http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/5-ways-data-can-improve-your-law-firms-blog/Three Ways Law Firms Use Technology for Client Communicationhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LawTechnologyTodayOrg/~3/jCkMo6iLFWY/
http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/tech-for-communication-with-clients/#respondWed, 09 Aug 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/?p=7416By using new technology for client communication, attorneys can join professionals and conduct business without ever meeting customers in person.

]]>Traditionally, a call from a client meant making an appointment to meet in person in an office, where someone explained a case to help you determine how best to help. Telephone consultations were usually brief, designed for the attorney to decide whether to advise someone to come into the office or refer a colleague who was a better fit.

Today’s internet-connected consumers are no longer satisfied with face-to-face meetings as the sole way of doing business. Using modern communication technology, attorneys can join professionals in other fields who now conduct business without ever meeting customers in person. Here are a few ways technology is changing the way law firms interact.

Website Chat

Winning new clients starts with your website, where potential clients go first as they’re deciding whether to work with you. Imagine being able to speak to those website visitors directly, answering any questions they might have. While you can’t have an in-person conversation with website visitors, you can invite them to chat. In many cases, they’ll decline the invitation, opting to look for information on their own, but when someone has a pressing question or wants to make a quick decision, you may find that the invitation means the difference between winning new clients and losing them to a competitor.

There are several ways to handle chat on your website. At our firm, we use stagnant chat invitations in addition to a box that pops up requiring visitors to either accept or decline. We’ve implemented this on virtually every page of our site with great results.

If you can’t have someone on hand to chat 24/7, look for a service that lets you turn chat off when no one is available, or offers access to a FAQ or resource library. You can also use chatbots to answer common questions and have simple conversations with visitors after hours.

Video Conferencing

Medical professionals are diagnosing patients and therapists are conducting sessions using video conferencing, providing a level of convenience that patients enjoy. Law firms can benefit from offering that same convenience, especially if your clientele finds it difficult to set time aside for an in-person meeting. Even if you prefer initial consultations to be face to face, however, you can still use video conferencing for subsequent interactions, such as case updates and fact-finding conversations.

Although there are many firms using video conferencing for internal meetings and depositions, the technology is beginning to make its way into the attorney-client meeting space. Zurich law firm, LAUX Lawyers AG, uses a service called Veeting Rooms to interact with its clients, witnesses, partners, paralegals, and everyone else involved in the case. The service makes it easier to gather multiple parties in one place for a meeting, especially when some of the parties involved aren’t located nearby. As this technology evolves, firms will likely find multiple services offering video conferencing services specifically geared toward the unique needs of the legal field.

Online Portals

Finding a secure way to communicate with clients throughout the case preparation process can be challenging. Online portals offer the perfect solution, setting up a password-protected space where clients and firm employees can access documents and collaborate. It’s important that such portals meet regulatory requirements when it comes to securing personal data on clients, but they can actually be a more compliant way of communicating than email or phone.

Amara Immigration Law switched to legal practice software years ago, finding that it dramatically improved the firm’s productivity. As a result, they generally have more than 100 open cases at any given time. Through the portal, firm employees can access all their messages in one place. Instead of dealing with a constant stream of phone calls throughout the day, the firm can manage everything through the portal, decreasing one attorney’s workday from 14 hours to 11 hours each day. While there are still clients who prefer to pick up the phone, the portal better serves those clients who are also challenged on time. This increases the likelihood that the next time those clients need an attorney, they will return to the law firm that provided the most convenient form of communication.

Today’s legal professionals know an investment in technology is essential to winning repeat business from clients. When firms can make communication as convenient and painless as possible, they’ll create a customer service experience that impresses clients and leads to referrals.

]]>http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/tech-for-communication-with-clients/feed/0http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/tech-for-communication-with-clients/Using Website Badges to Gain Credibility for Your Law Firmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LawTechnologyTodayOrg/~3/emUrhWfJ8vQ/
http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/2017/08/using-website-badges/#respondTue, 08 Aug 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://www.lawtechnologytoday.org/?p=7422Even just a few badges can help instill confidence in your website visitors.

]]>Normally, consumers likely pay little attention to the badges businesses prominently display on their websites. Some customers like to see that a site is secure before entering payment information, but do you actually check to see if it is before entering your credit card information?

For law firms, however, potential clients know the importance of trust when choosing an attorney. Before committing to paying a retainer for an attorney to take on a case, a client wants to know that a lawyer can be relied upon to see the case through to its conclusion. Badges are a visually appealing way to offer that reassurance to anyone who visits.

But deciding what type of badges to display and locating those badges can be a chore. Here are a few things you should know about choosing and displaying badges on your website.

Types of Badges

When it comes to badges for your website, there are no set rules. You know your clientele better than anyone else and as you begin displaying badges, you’ll likely learn even more about what works and what doesn’t. Here are a few types of badges that may apply to your law firm’s website:

Professional accreditations. Your attorneys and your firm likely have accreditations that relate to the work you do. Badges from the Better Business Bureau, the American Bar Association, or your state bar association can give prospective clients the confidence they need to choose you as an attorney.

Awards. Publications often name top law firms, both on a national and local basis. Firms can benefit from displaying them on landing pages. We chose to put them in multiple locations on our homepage. These awards can display a great deal of trust and expertise to potential clients.

Security. Often seen in the checkout area, these badges reassure customers making a purchase that their funds are safe. If your law firm allows its clients to pay online, make sure your payment area has a badge that certifies the payment processing method as secure.

Social media. Perhaps the most common badges on a website today are the social media buttons that easily take visitors to your various social media platforms. This is an easy step that can drive traffic to your Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or LinkedIn page.

Ideal Location

Where you put the badge is as important as having it in the first place. Many law firms choose to locate badges at the bottom of their landing page, above the contact information visitors usually seek. Some feature them more prominently and even dedicate a separate page to announcing their latest awards and accomplishments. If you choose this route, avoid including a date with the announcement unless you’ll be able to update it on a regular basis. If your last award was 2015, a news page of this type will only highlight to visitors that you haven’t been acknowledged in a while.

Earning Badges

Before you can place badges on your site, you need to first have them. You likely already have accreditations in place that you can apply to your site. If your firm is Better Business Bureau accredited, you can get badges through your member page. Check with your local bar association for badges you can use to announce your membership with them. Also link to online review sites where clients have praised the work your firm does, such as Yelp or Google.

Award badges can be a little more complicated to achieve. Search for opportunities within your membership organizations to win recognition. You can also look for organizations that allow nominations, like the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers listing and Law Firm 500. While prestigious awards are impressive, even smaller awards can give potential clients the impression of a highly-respected law firm that has earned prestige within its industry. There’s no need to fill your page with dozens of badges. Even a few can help instill confidence in your website visitors.

Website badges may not be something you notice as you’re browsing the internet. But for a client considering investing in an attorney to handle their case, badges can elevate a business, giving visitors the confidence they need to schedule a consultation. While it may take time to earn awards and recognition, there are likely badges you can post for the credentials you and your associates have today.

]]>Since technology and the internet are changing at such a fast pace, it’s important to keep track of what’s shifting and how it impacts your practice. In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about 2017 internet trends by reviewing the highlights of Mary Meeker’s Code Conference Report. They discuss topics like smartphone use, online advertising, the future of internet searching, and much more.